Patna: The Bihar government has approved a major redevelopment of the Musallahpur Agricultural Produce Market Yard in Patna, with Agriculture Minister Ram Kripal Yadav inspecting the ongoing works on Friday and directing officials to speed up construction.
During the visit on March 6, Yadav reviewed the progress of the modernisation and renovation project and asked authorities to ensure that the work is completed within the scheduled timeline. The Department of Agriculture has sanctioned Rs 68.41 crore for the redevelopment, which aims to transform the market yard into a modern trading hub for farmers and traders.
Officials said the project is part of the state’s broader agricultural roadmap initiated after the repeal of the APMC Act in 2006. The government has since been working to upgrade market yards across Bihar to improve marketing infrastructure and provide farmers with better access to organised markets.
The revamped Musallahpur market yard will also be connected to the National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) platform, allowing farmers to access national and international markets digitally. Authorities believe this integration will expand market opportunities and help farmers secure better prices for their produce.
The redevelopment plan includes new infrastructure such as drinking water facilities, sanitation units, improved lighting, security systems, trading platforms and warehouses. These upgrades are expected to create a more organised and efficient marketplace for agricultural trade.
During the inspection, Yadav instructed Director of Agricultural Marketing-cum-Administrator Shailendra Kumar and officials of the executing agency, Bihar State Bridge Construction Corporation Limited, to accelerate the pace of construction.
However, the minister also expressed concern that nearly three-quarters of the market yard area has not yet been surveyed or demarcated, delaying the construction of a boundary wall. He directed the concerned circle officer and sub-divisional officer to complete the demarcation process immediately to prevent further delays.
Representatives of traders also raised several suggestions during the visit. Shashikant Prasad, president of the Patna Fruit and Vegetable Vendors Association, urged the government to establish a controlled atmosphere cold storage facility, create dedicated chambers for orange storage and construct an exhibition hall within the market premises. He also requested that vehicles bringing farmers’ produce through gate number two be exempted from no-entry restrictions to ease access.
Officials from the executing agency said the modernisation work is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. The minister said strengthening agricultural market infrastructure would help farmers receive fair prices and contribute to the growth of Bihar’s agricultural economy.
